Is the Prophet Malachi the same person as Ezra Hasofer?

Question

I saw in a few places that when they write Malachi, in parentheses they write Ezra. Does that mean that some people agree that they are one person?

Harel13 · Accepted Answer · 2021-12-19 18:53:37Z

4

Yes, there is such an opinion in the Talmud (Megillah 15a):

"It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa said: Malachi is in fact Ezra."

This view has been accepted by many, although there are those that disagree, including right there in the Talmud.

answered Dec 19, 2021 at 18:53

Harel13

24.3k4 gold badges54 silver badges129 bronze badges

So what should I teach my students? What is the most accepted idea?
– Sarah
Dec 19, 2021 at 20:18
@Sarah I'm not a teacher. It's up to you, really, although there's always the third option: "...and there are many that say that Ezra is Malachi etc". You know - sort of neutral. But I've heard great classes about the character of Ezra based on either view - some that hold he was Malachi and some that hold that he wasn't. Holding that he wasn't doesn't diminish his character.
– Harel13
Dec 19, 2021 at 20:20
The gemara there also brings a second opinion that malachi hanovi could also be mordechai from the purim story and a third opinion that he is neither ezra hasofer or mordechai. interesting to note that the traditional yahrtzeit of ezra hasofer is 9 teves while malachi is said to have been niftar on 10 teves, this may suggest they are different characters
– ezra
Dec 19, 2021 at 22:19
2

@ezra or he died bein hashemashot
– Double AA ♦
Dec 19, 2021 at 23:38
@ezra True. I alluded to other options at the end of the answer.
– Harel13
Dec 20, 2021 at 6:21

Add a comment |

1 Answer 1